Effects of matrine combined with albendazole on the secondary echinococcosis in mouse

Objective To evaluate the effect of matrine alone and combined with albendazole on the secondary echinococcosis in mouse. Methods Mice infected with echinococcosis protoscolices were divided into 4 groups: matrine group, albendazole group, matrine combined with albendazole group and control group, every group were 10. The major criteria for evaluating the effects included a reduction rate of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) tissue wet weight, histopathological examination of the cysts by both light microscopy and electron-microscopy after 90 days of experiment. Results E. granulosus tissue wet weight of matrine group, albendazole group, matrine combined with albendazole group and control group were (0.32±0.12), (0.31±0.10), (0.05± 0.03), (1.16±0.43)g, respectively. The inhibition rates of cyst tissue wet weight in the groups treated by matrine alone and combined with albendazole were 72.4% ,95.7%, respectively. The efficacy of combined treatment was significantly higher than that of matrine(P < 0.05). The Ⅲ degree histopathologic damage rates of cysts in above 4 groups were 40.9%(9/22) ,43.5% (10/23) ,91.3% (21/23) ,9.5% (2/21), respectively. Compared with the control group, the Ⅲ degree histopathologic damage rates of cysts in other 3 groups were increased obviously(all P < 0.01), especially in the combined treatment group. Conclusions The experiment indicates that matrine has inhibitive effect on E. granulosus and that the combination of the two drugs has more potent effect on E. granulosus, suggesting that matrine can strengthen the effect of albendazole and that the two drugs have synergistic action on the therapy of echinococcosis. Key words: Echinococcus granulosus;  Matrine;  Albendazole;  Therapy